Lady Cyclones can’t close the deal, lose opener to Crockett

Published 1:33 pm Friday, March 17, 2023

By Ron Marvel

Star Correspondent

The Lady Cyclones had to like the position they were in going into the top of the sixth inning. Mollie Johnson had just shot a line drive down the right field line that dropped right in front of the extended glove of the hard charging fielder. This base hit scored Emma O’Quinn and Ember Jensen and made the score 3-2 going into the top of the sixth. Mollie Johnson had been extremely effective off the mound against a David Crockett lineup that may be one of the best in East Tennessee. Unfortunately, the Lady Cyclones gave the Lady Pioneers an opening and they kicked the door down with both boots’ going on to score 4 in the sixth and five in the seventh to beat the Lady Cyclones 12-2.

Senior Ember Jensen went 4-4 from the plate, Maely Ingram also had two hits on the day, Mollie Johnson did well all day working out of jams against the loaded Crockett lineup, but a couple of base knocks that fell out of reach and a couple of defensive lapses proved to be too much to overcome. Johnson threw 5.1 innings, surrendering six runs. Lily McDuffie and Lela Byrd finished the game in relief, but the Lady Pioneers were smelling blood by that point. Post game, Head Coach Kenny Hardin acknowledged that with a team like the Lady Pioneers you have to be darn near perfect to get the job done, “Crockett is a very good team; we just made too many mistakes and good teams will make you pay. It is early; we will keep working.” The Lady Cyclones were outhit on the day 16-10.